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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Spring Football Reaches Midway Point with Busy Practice
3/25/2025 4:06:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic football team reached the midway point of the 2025 spring season under first-year Hagerty Family Football Head Coach Zach Kittley, who not only orchestrated the team's practice, but also welcomed "faculty coaches" to practice as well as more than a dozen scouts who were on-site for the 2025 Pro Day.
The Owls were put through their paces under a blanket cloud cover, but with temperature in the high 70s and the humidity over 70%, FAU's frame of mind was tested more so than any of the first seven practices.
On the wide receiver room and comparing the offense to his first stint at FAU
"Starting with personnel, I think we have a great mix of some big guys and little quick guys, guys who play inside, got a couple of guys who play inside and outside, and we have a couple of returners in the room as well. We have the mix that we need and what we are looking for as far as when you put a wide receiver room together. Yes, the offense is similar to what we did back in '17 and '19 when Lane (Kiffin) was here, there are a couple of different nuances. The head coach/OC is unbelievable. He is an offensive guru, a savant as they say, and he knows exactly what he wants to do on offense. If we can get the kids to execute what he wants, we will have a chance to break some records around here."
On Kittley's style impacting recruits' interest in Florida Atlantic
"Absolutely. We have already had two or three guys on campus that we probably would not have had on campus in recent years. When you get a guy offensively that has the reputation that he has, throughout his career calling offense he averages 34.2 points per game. When he was in Conference USA with Western Kentucky, think about it, he threw for 6,000 yards, which is unheard of in college football for 12, 13, or 14 games. We had some success here in '19 and threw for 4,000 yards. With what he does on offense and how he calls it, how he moves things around and manipulates things, if we can get the guys to buy in and execute it we have a chance to do something special here."
Senior JR Wilson Jr
On his transition to Florida Atlantic
"Overall, my whole transfer process was initially one that was very unusual for me. I was unaware about it. I was skeptical and didn't know where I was going to find a home and if the right place was the right fit for me. Ever since I have been here, I have loved it. The coaches all around every day from the strength staff to the student managers, everyone is very friendly and [it's a] great, caring environment. I'm just so excited. I love the offense we run. It is very receiver friendly. It is very 'air raid', which is what I'm most excited about. I can't complain. It has been a year so far, since I started here and I'm excited and loving everything about it."
On the differences between Florida Atlantic and Virginia
"One thing I can definitely say is that it has been hot, especially today. That was a real big factor for me. I'm not used to playing in the heat year-around. In Virginia, it was only hot in the summer time. That is going to be a big factor for us. We practice on the hot lot. We are used to being hot and tired going against other teams who are not used to seeing tempo and when they come down to our house, just the heat as well, I feel like it will be a great advantage for us. For me personally, that is the only thing I have been struggling with."
Gallery: (3-25-2025) Spring Practice #8
The Owls were put through their paces under a blanket cloud cover, but with temperature in the high 70s and the humidity over 70%, FAU's frame of mind was tested more so than any of the first seven practices.
QUOTABLE
DJ McCarthy, Wide Receivers CoachOn the wide receiver room and comparing the offense to his first stint at FAU
"Starting with personnel, I think we have a great mix of some big guys and little quick guys, guys who play inside, got a couple of guys who play inside and outside, and we have a couple of returners in the room as well. We have the mix that we need and what we are looking for as far as when you put a wide receiver room together. Yes, the offense is similar to what we did back in '17 and '19 when Lane (Kiffin) was here, there are a couple of different nuances. The head coach/OC is unbelievable. He is an offensive guru, a savant as they say, and he knows exactly what he wants to do on offense. If we can get the kids to execute what he wants, we will have a chance to break some records around here."
On Kittley's style impacting recruits' interest in Florida Atlantic
"Absolutely. We have already had two or three guys on campus that we probably would not have had on campus in recent years. When you get a guy offensively that has the reputation that he has, throughout his career calling offense he averages 34.2 points per game. When he was in Conference USA with Western Kentucky, think about it, he threw for 6,000 yards, which is unheard of in college football for 12, 13, or 14 games. We had some success here in '19 and threw for 4,000 yards. With what he does on offense and how he calls it, how he moves things around and manipulates things, if we can get the guys to buy in and execute it we have a chance to do something special here."
Senior JR Wilson Jr
On his transition to Florida Atlantic
"Overall, my whole transfer process was initially one that was very unusual for me. I was unaware about it. I was skeptical and didn't know where I was going to find a home and if the right place was the right fit for me. Ever since I have been here, I have loved it. The coaches all around every day from the strength staff to the student managers, everyone is very friendly and [it's a] great, caring environment. I'm just so excited. I love the offense we run. It is very receiver friendly. It is very 'air raid', which is what I'm most excited about. I can't complain. It has been a year so far, since I started here and I'm excited and loving everything about it."
On the differences between Florida Atlantic and Virginia
"One thing I can definitely say is that it has been hot, especially today. That was a real big factor for me. I'm not used to playing in the heat year-around. In Virginia, it was only hot in the summer time. That is going to be a big factor for us. We practice on the hot lot. We are used to being hot and tired going against other teams who are not used to seeing tempo and when they come down to our house, just the heat as well, I feel like it will be a great advantage for us. For me personally, that is the only thing I have been struggling with."
PRO DAY
Registration began at 8:30 a.m. for former Owls and NFL scouts set to participate in the 2025 Pro Day. The Owls began with measurements, moved into the vertical and bench press and ended with the 40-yard dash and cone drills. In all, 15 former FAU players worked out before more than 25 professional scouts all hoping to join the 11 former Owls who ended the 2024 regular season on an NFL contract.PHOTO GALLERY
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